The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has hit pause on amendments to traceability regulations under the Health of Animals Act.
“The CFIA will pause any publication of the regulations until the proposed changes are more widely understood and concerns are heard and taken into consideration,” the agency announced January 10.
The changes have yet to be announced, let alone implemented, contrary to misinformation circulating online.
Originally expected to be published in the Canada Gazette in April 2026, final amendments have been postponed indefinitely in response to requests by industry, including the BC Cattlemen’s Association (BCCA).
BCCA general manager Kevin Boon says part of the problem is that CFIA has not done any education or announcements around the planned amendments, something that should be their responsibility.
BCCA will be holding a town hall to bring its members up to speed.
“We’re going to go ahead and do it to get that information out there,” Boon says. “Let’s get people better informed. We have a problem when people make comments without the correct information.”
The process of amending the regulations was initiated some 14 years ago, with at least three rounds of public consultation since then. Proposed changes published in March 2023 drew feedback from BCCA and other industry groups, resulting in changes such as producers being responsible for reporting animal movements at fairs and events rather than event organizers.
When the final amendments are published in the Canada Gazette, industry will have a year to phase in the new requirements.
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